Iran’s parliament is considering a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in response to what it calls the agency’s unprofessional and politically biased behavior.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, announced on Monday that the legislature is debating a move to cut ties with the IAEA. He stated that Iran’s peaceful nuclear intentions have been ignored, despite a religious decree from the Supreme Leader banning nuclear weapons.
Referring to the IAEA’s failure to honor its commitments, Qalibaf said the agency has now become a political tool. He stressed that Iran will only resume cooperation once it receives clear guarantees of professional conduct from the UN nuclear watchdog.
Addressing the recent U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Qalibaf called the attacks a direct act of war. He warned that Iran would respond forcefully and make former U.S. President Donald Trump regret initiating hostilities.
Tensions escalated on June 13 when Israel launched strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear centers. The situation worsened when the U.S. carried out coordinated attacks on three key Iranian nuclear sites — Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan — on Sunday morning.
Iranian officials have declared that Tehran reserves the right to retaliate and will determine its response in line with its national interests and sovereignty.